Monday, 30 November 2015

No one ever seems
to notice Spider Iggy. He tries to be
noticed and make friends but with no success.
All the while, he dreams of a place filled with colour and light and
spiders like him. Determined to leave
his old life behind, he sets off on an adventure to find a place where he fits
in. To find a place he can call home.

Spider Iggy is the latest picture book by award-winning Australian
author Aleesah Darlison. It is a lovely
book that encompasses themes of acceptance, belonging and bravery.

We meet Spider
Iggy as he attempts to engage with and befriend those around him. Despite all his best efforts he is routinely
shunned which makes him unhappy - a situation that many young children can
relate to. It is this that drives him to
find a place where he belongs; friends that accept him; to follow his dreams.

It’s this message
that I particularly love: Spider Iggy remains true to himself and goes in
search of where he belongs, rather than change himself in order to be
accepted. It is not an easy journey as
he faces many dangers as well as people and creatures that reject him on
sight. He does not give up, and listens
as the wind whispers, ‘Be brave’. This
is a great message for young children as they learn how to be a part of the
world around them: be who you are, be brave.

Spider Iggy is
brought to life by the artwork of Sarah Jane Hinder. Each full-page illustration is bold and
playful. There is an upbeat quality that
lends itself well to the positive message of the story.

Aleesah Darlison
is an award-winning author who has published over twenty picture books and
novels for children of all ages. Her
stories cover such themes as courage, anti-bullying, friendship and
self-belief. When she isn’t writing
she’s looking after her four children or taking her dog, Floyd, for long walks
on the beach. She can be found online
at: http://www.aleesahdarlison.com/

Three
Dragons for Christmas
is a beautiful 32-page book that is perfect for young readers. It contains
three original, heartwarming stories created by different authors and
illustrators and featuring everyone’s favourite mystical creatures - dragons.

Come
on a journey as you discover whether dragons can really make a
toymaker’s luck change or pull Santa's sleigh, or whether a
dragon family will get their Christmas feast.

The
book has a nostalgic feel to it and the pages are beautifully designed and
presented. The style and layout of the book is reminiscent of old-time classic
fairytales from years gone by.

The
cover features gold-foil stamping and enticing illustrations that will appeal
to anyone looking for a lovely book to share at Christmas time.

The
stories are creative and well written which makes them enjoyable to read. The
book also features numerous black and white and colourful illustrations that
enhance the story and appeal to readers. The text is clear and easy to read,
and the stories easy to follow.

With
Christmas just around the corner, now is the perfect time to pick up a copy of Three
Dragons for Christmas. Friends and family would love receive this
precious keepsake which is great for sharing aloud or for children who like to
read by themselves.

Saturday, 28 November 2015

Wow!
The Wonders of our Worldis a fabulous book full of interesting
information that will appeal to young readers and anyone who enjoys learning
about how things work.

This
lovely book is jam-packed with fascinating facts that will promote curiosity,
stimulate thinking and encourage children to ask more questions. Children will
learn how certain things work, how they are created and their purpose in this
world.

As
you flick through the book, you will be amazed at the range and diversity of
topics covered including the Brain, Language, Speed, Transport, and Space and
Time, to name a few.

The
cover of the book is bright and bold, and will entice readers to pick it up.
The text is easy to read and the language reader friendly. The colourful
illustrations are imaginative and creative, and bring the pages to life. They
make this book a pleasure to read.

This is an engaging book
that has the potential to expand young minds as they struggle to understand how
the world evolved and how they can survive in our ever changing environment.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about the world
we live in and to anyone looking to inspire young children to pick up a book.
Once they start reading it, they will find it impossible to put it down.

Friday, 27 November 2015

Part of a series called Pickle
and Bree’s Guide to Good Deeds, this is a beautifully presented and
designed – and very reasonably priced – picture book for young readers. The
series is centred on two delightful but different friends, the highly spirited,
opinionated girl Bree and the slow, plodding Pickles the bear. In this book,
Pickle and Bree, who live together, decide to redecorate their house.

As with any home-restorations, there are disagreements. One
wants wallpaper, the other paint. However, when the two decide to work
separate, more problems arise. Pickle is daunted by sticky wallpaper which
results in him becoming wrapped in it! Bree, whose paint is a pea-green, gets
stuck on top of a ladder – and calls for her friend. However, a compromise is
soon reached and the friends even clean up together when the jobs are done.

This is a book which extols the virtues of teamwork. It
cleverly and subtly shows how listening to the other person’s point of view and
working together to brain-storm can result in shared ideas that lead to
success. It invites readers to accept that sometimes others have different ways
of doing things, that there is no one way of get something done. Overall, the
discovery to be made is that friends can be friends even when they are totally
different.

Aimed at children aged 5 to 8 years, this well-written
picture book with lively and appealing illustrations, has more text than most
so it would be ideal for an adult to read and discuss the story. To sum up:
Reynolds and Butterley’s book is entertaining, educational and uplifting. It’s
also highly recommended.

Thursday, 26 November 2015

Pickle is a big brown bear, Bree is a tiny girl and both are
best friends who live in a double-storeyed house (Pickle in a ‘cave’ under the
stairs). Like all friends, they sometimes have misunderstandings and
disagreements which is the basis of this book for readers 5 to 8 years which is
one in a series.

In this book, Bree is happy and ready for fun, but Pickle is
grouchy. When Bree finds the big bear making a honey cake for his friend
Jason’s birthday, she realises that there’s no invitation for her to the party
but Pickle reassures her she’s welcome. Bree makes a three-layer chocolate cake
while Pickle’s honey cake is lopsided. At the party, Pickles and the birthday
boy play Bear Bump and are not really interested in Eyespy, but they give in.
When Bree’s chocolate cake is not what Jason wants, Bree (who has been
practicing) triple-somersaults into the cake and then pours honey all over it.
Later, Bree is scorer for Bear Bump, and she teaches Pickle how to somersault.

The relationships in this book are basically about people
making compromises. Sub-titled Pickle and
Bree’s Guide to Good Deeds, the story reminds young readers that although
people (and bears) are different, it is possible, by working hard, to find
solutions when there is some kind of incompatibility. At the back of The Birthday Party Cake the author has
included a list of ways in which children can settle differences with others –
such as accepting others’ points of view and listening to what they have to
say.

This is a lovely book with a bright and breezy text that
gets its message across without seeming in the slightest didactic. The
full-page illustrations with colourful backgrounds and delightful pictures set
indoors -- sometimes featuring small break-out pictures (such as Bree
somersaulting and the bears tummy-bumping) -- are joyful and full of fun. All
in all, this is a delightful book for parents to share with their young
children.

Wednesday, 25 November 2015

This picture book is quite
different from the norm insofar as it doesn’t tell a story and it has no
characters, except for the reader. Through its calm text and muted coloured
illustrations, its creator invites the reader – young or old – to develop the
habit of mindfulness. In the back of the book she describes mindfulness as a
practice which makes one more grounded; and, too, it brings inner calm and
clarity of thought which leads practitioners to live authentically and happily.
All of which sounds like a very sensible recipe that could possibly lead to not
only personal peace, but community and even national and international peace!

The mindful experiences
include sitting quietly or meditating -- living in, and appreciating the
moment. Alternatively, one is encouraged to ‘take as long as you can’, great
advice for anyone trying to multi-task and consequently getting stressed. The
focus here for the reader is to concentrate on one activity at a time, until it
is finished.

In gentle, simple free
verse, each page narrates a way of being mindful, whether it is following a
bird, walking barefoot on grass, taking the time to enjoy the mightiness of the
heavens (finding stars) or watching waves. Exploring one’s creativity – ‘paint’
– helps heal the mind, not worrying about the product but becoming ‘lost’ with
paint, brush and paper.

Here is what McKnoulty
writes on the page titled ‘go walking in nature’:

Each double-page spread featuring
one mindfulness activity is accompanied by a subdued pastel illustration. The
quality of the pictures varies but some are very appealing, such as a child’s
bare feet on grass with a cloudy sky background, and a lone bird in a tree. It
seems the book’s creator follows her own advice of creating for the experience,
not for the product.

Making Mindful Magic is a book which can’t be rushed. It sets out to, and succeeds, in
making the reader take her time. One can open at any page and follow that activity
or move on to another activity. Or a parent might like to check out the back
pages where suggestions are given in prose on how to apply the practices to
one’s child.

This charming book is
recommended for anyone, child or adult, who wants to remedy a life that is too
busy and stressful

Here is the third in the series set in an Australian
wilderness forest that focuses on the adventures of Daisy, a finger-sized fairy
who has recently earned her wings. In another gentle and charming story, the
reader learns how Daisy helps her musically talented older sister, Maggie, get
ready for a concert. Maggie is to go into a Songbird Duet with the magpie
Melody, so Daisy, trying to surprise her, decides to embellish a beautiful
black dress made by Aunt Acacia with corella feathers. Unfortunately, this
proves to be a disaster – but aunt steps happily steps in to remedy the
problem.

Just before a performance, Daisy’s friend Pea – a recurring
fairy character in the series – introduces her to musicians including Boronia,
Grebe, Lark and Ash who are all to perform as well. As events progress, Daisy
is forced to use her wand to smooth events which threaten to spoil the
rehearsal. Then, when Grevillia -- Boronia’s overzealous mother -- threatens to
sabotage Maggie's duet with Melody the Magpie, Daisy has the chance to save the
day and redeem herself.

Once again, the Australian bush setting
brings a unique aspect to the story and the characters are real and lovable,
and unlike many book series for children – they are memorable. For a reader
aged 6 to 9 years, especially a girl, this book is a page-turner with lots of
action and adventure.

The whimsical ink sketches by one of Australia’s leading
illustrators capture the delightful tone of the book. Highly recommended.

In Daisy’s Quest, the
first exciting, event-filled book in this series of chapter books for readers 7
to 9 years, Daisy gained her feathery new wings. Daisy finally feels like a
true fairy but she will need all the strength, bravery, resourcefulness and
persistence she showed in that quest in order to learn how to fly. First,
though, Daisy needs bigger dresses in order to accommodate her wings, so Mum’s
sister, Aunt Acacia, a seamstress, gets to work. First she takes her niece into
the forest to point out potential dangers for a flying fairy – webs, thorny
bushes, snakes and currawongs.

Then Daisy – with the help of her best friend,
the beetle Vu, needs to build up her shoulder muscles, which requires lots of
exercise practice.

Like other young children
learning a new skill, Daisy needs to learn patience and how to deal with
disappointment and frustration. Her first attempt to fly, encouraged by her
fairy friend Pea, results in a fall from a tree branch. Luckily, Dad, who is a
healer, is able to help Daisy to recover. Kerry Millard, the illustrator, who
faithfully captures the spirit of the Wilderness Fairy’s stories, has
beautifully captured, in simple lines and wash, many tender moments in the
books, including one of a tearful Daisy being consoled – and encouraged – by
her aunt after this first failure.

Learning ways of moving –
from hovering to gentle fluttering to powerful flapping – Daisy gains concentration and focus. Her first solo flight is wild and unpredictable but
ultimately successful. The next book in this wonderful series will surely be
about Daisy’s attempt to find her ‘Calling’.

In this – and the previous
book – the author Jodie Wells-Slowgrove – has created a whole new world which
is fantastical and yet utterly believable. She has captured the atmosphere of
forests which are so familiar to Australians. Even within Daisy’s life her
close-knitted family seems real as they gather together to dine on lilli pilli
cake, roasted seeds, native cherries and wattle seed damper.

The books give
readers insight into the lives of native animals and their habitat. At the end
of this book there are notes purportedly from Daisy about how to make bush
music, about Sydney Green Wattle and Nelli, a ladybird which are featured in
the story.

This series is sure to find
a strong following with children who appreciate page-turning adventures and
characters which one can care about.

Saturday, 21 November 2015

As a child aged 7 to 9
years I would have read this book and taken it to bed with me every night. And,
too, my imagination fired, I would have gone into the bush time and again
looking for the Fairy Wilderness in hopes of catching sight of Daisy.

Daisy at the start of this
book series, of special appeal to girls, is a wingless fairy waiting for the
Fairy Queen to grant her wings. Her older sister Maggie has wings and a Calling
(she is musically gifted); Mum’s Calling is horticulture and Dad’s is healing. Armed
with her magical wand and travelling
shoes, Daisy now goes with her special friend, the beetle Vu, on the quest for
her wings. She has numerous encounters along the way, first with a Monarch
butterfly that leaves her a Telling Tube which is opened by a Painted Lady butterfly following advice given to her by Pea,
an awkward winged fairy.

Next, Daisy faces danger
when she is trapped under water by waterlily pads, but once again she is helped
by nature in the form of a water nymph. The persistent and brave Daisy
goes on, but in her final struggle to succeed, she uses kindness which in effect
results in spoiling her whole mission. Eventually the hapless fairy child meets Queen
Jasmine. But although she failed the task, does Daisy still get rewarded for her
courage, persistence and kindness?

This is book full of exciting, fast-paced adventure with frequent cliff-hangers. It is also full of magic and
secrets, peopled by characters who are genuine, three-dimensional fairies that one cares about. Daisy faces disappointment and frustration, but she remains
full of hope and joy. At the front of the book is something many children love – a map showing places where action happens and where people in the story live. During her quest the reader can consult the map as she ventures with Daisy into the
Australian wilderness which is full of familiar – and not so familiar – flora
and fauna.

The end of the book offers interesting notes for the reader – in this case how Daisy gets her name (from
the Golden Everlasting or Paper Daisy), also how to make Lemon Myrtle Cordial (featured in the story), and about the endangered beetle for which Vu is named.

It is so good to see a book
about fairies that young readers can engage with and who are Australian to boot. Most
readers of this first book in the series will be hanging out for the next –
will Daisy successfully learn how to fly? Highly recommended.

Friday, 20 November 2015

The Princess in
Black and the Perfect Princess Party by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by
LeUyen Pham (Walker Books)

HC RRP $ 17.99

ISBN 9780763665111

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Princess Magnolia is anticipating the perfect
Princess party. She’s put a lot of work into this perfect day and as she waits
for the guests to arrive, her glitter-stone ring warns her of a monster attack.
Princess Magnolia has an alter ego that surfaces when she gets into the broom
closet and slides down the chute as the Princess in Black!

Even her trusty steed has a secret life. His
metamorphosis takes place in the hollow of a tree that leads to a secret
passage. He enters as Frimplepants and exits as Blacky.

Twelve Princesses are on their way to her party. In
fact, they are at the gates. With her magic sceptre she fights the goat-eating
monsters, and quickly jumps on Blacky and flies back to the party.

But each time they start to open the presents,
Princess Magnolia’s ring goes off and off she goes giving some excuse for her
sudden departure.

Will the smart and observant Princess Sneezewort
catch her out? With all her monster battles raging, will her perfect Princess
party have a happy ending?

Pink and frothy, funny and entertaining, these
girlie thirteen chapters are ideal for 6+ readers. It can be read all at once,
or picked up and put down. The illustrations are gorgeous and so is the
bewitching Princess Magnolia. It is beautifully produced with a jacket cover
and ideal for a special gift.

Thursday, 19 November 2015

I love wordless picture books. They are like a
search-and-find experience; a voyage of discovery. They allow the reader scope
to expand their imagination and translate what they see. It’s almost a create-your-own-story. If an
adult feels this way, imagine how much children will get out of this book.

A girl is out with her father. He appears to be
oblivious to what is going on around him. The girl seems to be just a
tag-along.

She though, is alert and observant. While he is
walking blindly towards his destination and talking on his mobile, the girl is
taking in the world around her.

She collects colourful flowers growing from corners
of the footpath, beneath poles where bikes are tied, from cracks in the walls
and footpaths. She looks at coloured bottles, and sees the beauty in small
things. Her bunch of flowers grows.

Till this point, the illustrations are all in black
ink. The only colour is the girl’s coat and hood which is bright red, and the
flowers which she clutches in her hand.

They enter a park. The trees are stark and bare. The
girl sees a dead bird. She bobs down to look at it and places some of the flowers
on its chest. Here the scene changes and colour enters the picture while the
father and child are presented in dark shadow. The bird is in full colour. She
has given the bird something of herself along with the flowers.

From this point on there is a great shift in the
girl and the man. Colourful watercolour images spill onto the pages. They pass
an old man sleeping on a bench. The girl leaves him flowers. She stops to pat a
dog on the way and places flowers in his collar.

They are close to home. The change in the man is
extraordinary. He has come home to his family. A woman waits at the door. Children are in the yard. A baby is asleep in
a pram. Flowers are everywhere.

The girl looks up at birds flying in the sky. She
seems to be remembering the bird in the park. She’s holding one last daisy in
her hand and appears to be overcome with sadness. All the things she’s
encountered including the flowers are small like her.

This beautiful book by award-winning poet JonArno
Lawson is illustrated by the highly talented Sydney Smith whose talent is
obvious from the stunning cover and end papers. It tells of the joy found in
random acts of kindness; in the small things around us, and the way children
find beauty in the simplest things. It’s ideal for the 4+ years age group, adult
and child sharing and discussion; and for collectors of outstanding picture
books.

Wednesday, 18 November 2015

The
Twelve Days of Christmas is a classic Christmas
carol which most people know well. On each of the twelve days of Christmas, a
man buys a gift for his true love, each one getting bigger and more
extravagant.

The counting and the repetition within
the lyrics make it perfect for a picture book but the absolute delight (and
cleverness) of The Twelve Days of
Christmas is the illustrations. There is so much to marvel over on so many
different levels.

At first glance they are old-fashioned
paintings; beautiful, glowing scenes, cracked with age. But the closer you
look, the more you see. From the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations in
the town to the quieter, but still active, country life, there is so much going
on around the man and woman as they walk through the story.

Every page provides a clue to what the
next gift will be – on the page before ‘six
geese a-laying’ two geese float on the river as the couple cross a bridge.
Hidden away on every page is Father Christmas, and he is not always easy to
spot!

Also hidden away on most pages are
little humorous scenes – such as a policeman chasing a turkey down the street –
and links back to precious gifts. And I’m sure much more that I have missed.
These are illustrations which can be studied for great lengths of time.

So many themes of Christmas are
included; families, carolling, gifts, and parties. This is an engrossing book
for quiet contemplation as well as for reading to young ones during the
December preparations.

The
Mapmaker Chronicles: Breath of the Dragon by A.L.Tait (Lothian/Hachette)

PB RRP $14.99
ISBN 9780734415813

Reviewed
by Hilary Smillie

The
third and last book in The Mapmaker Chronicles brings to an exciting conclusion
the adventures of Verdanian, Quinn Freeman, mapmaker on board the Libertas,
one of three ships vying for the prize offered by the king of Verdania for the
best map of the world. A.L. Tait has skillfully recapped the previous two books
in such a way that children reading Breath of the Dragon will enjoy it
as a stand- alone title.

The
story opens with Quinn and his fellow voyagers, Zain the captain, Ash his
friend who masquerades as a boy, Tomas, and the rest of the crew all weak and close
to starvation. The ship reaches a desolate landfall where no tree or sign of
life is apparent other than a mountain belching smoke. Despite their lack of
confidence, the only way forward is to explore and hope some form of life and
therefore provisions will be discovered. A boat is launched from the Libertas
and thus new adventures begin.

A
strange group of dusty, goblin-like men shovelling out dirt and rocks on the
mountain side, stop their work as Quinn, Tomas and Zain appear. They look blank
as Zain then Quinn try various languages to communicate with them, but it isn't
until Tomas speaks in Prate - the pirate language - that comprehension appears
on the mob's faces. Egunon, one of the sand goblins (as Quinn calls them) steps
forward and says he is in charge. Tomas introduces Zain as Hayreddin, a
compatriot of the notorious pirate, the Golden Serpent, from the Black Hawk where
Quinn was once held captive.

The mention of the Golden Serpent has a dramatic
effect on Egunon. He quickly offers hospitality. But treachery threatens and
the crew are fortunate to escape both the sand goblins and the might of the
erupting volcano with its heat and stifling air the strange goblins call
"dragon's breath". But escape they do, taking with them provisions
and a sack of stones that Quinn thinks valuable and he is soon proved right.
The contents of the rocks should give the Libertas extra credit towards
earning the king's prize.

With
food in their bellies, everyone is strengthened except for the old cleric who
is still weak and ill. The cleric is the only one to know Quinn has two maps
and the genuine one is hidden in his cabin. But will the confidence held in the
true map prove to be misplaced?

There
are more challenges ahead before the mapmaker and those on board the Libertas
can return home: capture by marauding Deslonders, serious injuries and
imprisonment for Zain and clashes with their rivals to name a few. Perhaps one
of the more intriguing problems is Quinn struggling with loss of memory recall
which is impacting on his capabilities.

I
found the depth of the hatred and revenge Quinn feels towards Ira, at whose
hands he suffered so much, a shock. Despite a welcome benefit from the fight
which ensues, I am not a fan of these emotions and was pleased to find the
author balanced this scenario later with the calm of Zain's mature, adult
approach and wise influence on Quinn when a great injustice is done to the Libertas'
crew. It is good for young readers to see that patience and restraint is
preferable to violence.

The
author brings her series to a satisfying conclusion with plenty of interest and
unexpected events to surprise the reader right up to the last pages. The
Mapmaker Chronicles showcases a vivid imagination and gift for storytelling
which marries fantasy and reality together to great effect and is bound to be a
favourite series on the bookshelf.

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

Beautifully soft, in both words and
illustration, Our Love Grows is a
picture book about growth and the loving bond between mother and child. Every
young person will recognise the desire to get bigger as baby panda Pip asks, ‘Mama, when will I be big?’

The affection and love in the
mother/child bond is evident as Pip’s mum answers his question in a way that
feels like the singing of a lullaby, encouraging him to look out into the world
as well as inward toward himself. She introduces the concept of change and
growth in a gentle, loving way.

Children love to hear about when they
were ‘little’, and love to see how they have grown and changed. This story
plants the child firmly within the environment which surrounds them and points
out the growth which happens around them as well - trees growing, stars
expanding...

The delicate watercolour and pencil
illustrations are calm and quiet and the text rhythmical,

Monday, 16 November 2015

The animals on the farm are out and
about far from their homes when a storm approaches. As big fat raindrops begin
to fall, Lally the rabbit is the first to be invited by Madge the cow to
shelter underneath her broad body. There is plenty of room at first, but as
extra animals join, it gets more and more squishy. Will visitors keep arriving,
or will the rain stop before it gets too crowded? And is Spike the hedgehog one
animal too many?

Underneath
a Cow is a delight to read. The names are
wonderful and the banter between the animals is gorgeous. When mother hen’s
chicks get excited they bounce about like crazy
little dodgem cars. This annoys the dog.

There is a lovely rhythm to the story,
with an animal added to the crowd under the cow each page until the storm hits
it heights. Here, the calm and brave Madge encourages them all to sing, to keep
their fear away.

The personalities in the story are
enhanced by the fabulous illustrations, the unflappable cow, the fearful rabbit
and the silly chicks – including one little black one who looks like he’d be a
handful. Inside the cover – both front and back – is an aerial picture of the
farm showing what they were all doing before, and then after, the storm.

This is a really enjoyable and engaging
picture book. Both the words and pictures are highly entertaining and it is a
story which could be read many times over with pleasure.

Sunday, 15 November 2015

It was my
absolute pleasure, to read and review this terrific little book -- with the
help of my ten-year-old son who fell instantly in need with the title. We love
fun. We love silly. We love escapism. And The
Vanilla Slice Kid delivered on all three counts.

The story is
about a young chap with a special talent called Archie Cunningham, who just
wants to belong and be loved. He's born to a cruel cake-munching mother, and a
dad who does what he can to provide for his cruel wife. Neither parent ever
actually wanted Archie; that is until he was tickled by the midwife and
produced two tiny cupcakes from his palms and fired them at his mum.

Hidden away from
the world – no school, no friends, and forced to make cupcakes for Cunningham’s
Cupcakes – Archie grows up not knowing any different. This is until the tax
department discover his parents aren't interested in paying taxes and then find
out Archie's never been to school. So at twelve years old, Archie finally gets
to be a normal boy.

However, after
just half an hour into his first day, Archie breaks his promise to his parents
when he's picked on and produces two vanilla slices from his palms. He's
quickly recruited by his kind teacher, Mr Tomkins, and taken to The Centre.

But things
aren't quite as they first seem (are they ever?) After much analysis to
discover why his cakes are constantly changing and growing, Archie is delivered
some dire news. He has to escape The Centre. Fast. Before he explodes. But who
can he trust to assist him? Since his vanilla slice incident at school has gone
viral, the world has gone cake-crazy.

The Vanilla
Slice Kid is heaps of fun. It brings smiles aplenty. Although the General stole
the show for me with his hilarious recounts of how he lost most of his body
parts, the characters are wonderful, the story chaotic, and the end result
satisfyingly positive. Sometimes life calls for nothing more than
light-hearted, entertaining belly-laughs; not every book needs to teach
children a heavy life lesson. And The
Vanilla Slice Kid is perfect for this. I will certainly be looking for
other books by Adam Wallace and Jack Woodhams.

Saturday, 14 November 2015

Wesley Booth’s reputation at Hub Hill
Primary is in jeopardy. He is a super
sleuth. But if new girl, Cassidy Strong, beats him to the solution of the crime
wave gripping school, Wesley may be left in her shadow. And to make matters
worse, his traitorous best friend seems to like her. How’s a boy supposed to
solve a case when his mum keeps confiscating his case notes and grounding him?
Will his new – and incompetent – assistant be of any use? And what is going on
in the family? Maybe his geologist Dad has told one rock joke too many.

Wesley
Booth Super Sleuth is a fun read. Boys
especially, will enjoy the antics of Wesley as he navigates his way through
school, sibling disagreements, friendship upheavals and parents who just don’t
understand why detective work is more important than school work!

Humorous black & white illustrations
scattered throughout the chapters add to the story and appeal of the book.

This book is aimed at the 8 years plus
range and I think upper primary students (or younger children with high reading
skills) will enjoy it the most as, at 264 pages, it is not a quick read.

Friday, 13 November 2015

Mango is a girl who is good at many things. She
loves to play chess and is good at karate. She is learning to play the clarinet
but needs more practice.

Her life would be lonely if she didn’t have so much
to learn and practice. For Papa spends every moment of every day in his study
balancing books. It is on a Wednesday that Mango comes across an Asian tapir
named Bambang lying on the road, blocking the traffic that everybody thinks is
a pig. Being good at things helps her to persuade him to come with her. He has
run away from tigers and ended up in the big and busy city.

This is the start of a beautiful friendship between
two lonely people that become three when they meet George, the grubby boy up
the tree that loves toffees.

There are problems to face and solve. Persuading
people, especially Collectors of Unusual Things that Bambang is not a pig, is
very hard. But harder still, is finding a bath big enough for Bambang,
persuading him to stay indoors when Mango is at school, and trying to find him
when he wanders off.

This is a delightful story in four parts for the 5-7
ages. The illustrations are by Clara Vulliamy, daughter of Australian writer
and illustrator Shirley Hughes. The book is ideal for bedtime reading in small
portions. It is luxuriously presented in purple and grey colours alone, with
purple framed pages alternating throughout the book, and a jacket identical to
the cover. Themes of friendship, acceptance and kindness move like a mist
within the entertaining storyline.

Thursday, 12 November 2015

Australian Kids
through the Yearsby
Tania McCartney, illustrated by Andrew Joyner (National Library of Australia)

HC RRP $24.99

ISBN 9780642278593

Reviewed By Anastasia Gonis

This impeccably constructed book by Tania McCartney
and Andrew Joyner celebrates the cultural diversity of Australia. It focuses on
Australian children through the years as it educates and informs readers about
the shifting and evolving periods of Australian history. It starts from the
1800s and ends at 2000 and beyond.

The layout of the book follows a pattern. Two
children are introduced in each era. They then appear in a double spread that
reveals them in their daily environment. We progressively learn about the
children’s life and living conditions, the food they eat, the way they dress,
what they play, their educational opportunities and later what they are
reading.

Indigenous Australians are first in the book. Their relationship to the land, and the
reverence they hold for it is of paramount importance to their life.

Mid 1800s and brings the convict era. Children work
hard and schooling is rare. It is followed by the Gold Rush which brings the
Chinese to the Goldfields. Tents house the gold diggers and their families. The
dress code has changed slightly and Hotels begin to appear. Thousands of Irish
immigrants make Australia their home.
Most children are now getting an education and living conditions have
improved significantly.

Pre and post War life is addressed. An increase in
migration and decimal currency are stamped on Australia’s history. Big hair and
bright clothes, Ninja turtles and Atari herald great changes and shifts in the
life of children. This prepares them for the electronic age. And the rest is
history.

This book for the 5-8 years age range is a valuable asset
for schools, libraries, and tourist facilities as are most of Tania McCartney’s
recent books. Andrew Joyner’s fantastic illustrations complement the text
perfectly, bringing to life the past and how children’s lives changed
significantly for the better with the passing of time. The excellent end papers
reflect the contents as do the magnificent covers in vibrant colour.

As usual, the NLA has played a large part in this
beautiful production. Black and white photos from the archives enhance the List
of Illustrations from the National Library that appear with details of their
origins and other significant information.

The old is blended with the new as modern coloured
illustrations sit beside the old photos.

Wednesday, 11 November 2015

This
is the second Penelope Perfect novel
by the author of the Go Girl series,
Chrissie Perry. The narrative is punctuated with pictures and playful font,
adding some elements of interest to key scenes. The series’ star is Penelope
Kingston, a classic over-thinker who is anxious about all the important things
in a primary school child’s life, like navigating friendship groups and dealing
with playground conflict.

Penelope
demonstrates a high level of self-awareness, and realises that her nervous
feelings and angry outbursts need to be kept under control. There’s a lot of
self-analysis at the beginning of the book as Penelope grapples with her
worries, including writing herself a list of behavioural instructions to ensure
her upcoming trip to a school camp goes smoothly.

The
initial focus on her neuroses detracts somewhat from the narrative; however,
the second half the book takes a more enjoyable turn as the reader is
transported to the world of school camp and a cast of
schoolkid characters. Penelope faces the ups and downs of mean girls and
friendship alliances before it’s time to face her ultimate school camp fear –
tackling an intimidating, high swing challenge. The book comes to a satisfying
close as loose ends are neatly tied up. Penelope demonstrates inner growth and
a realisation that sometimes, expectations of perfection need to be loosened a
little to achieve ‘success’.

This
is a fun read for the 7 to 10 year old female market, featuring anxieties that
many children of this age would relate to. Despite the book’s heavy focus on
tackling insecurities, the characters, plot and tension draw the reader in, and
ultimately reveal an increasingly relatable and likeable Penelope who you can’t
help but cheer for.

Tuesday, 10 November 2015

It is 1910 and ten year old Sian is the
youngest in a large Welsh family. The unlucky 13th child, her mother
died giving birth to her and her harsh father seems to care little for her. Her
older sister has always looked after her, but with Olive’s impending marriage
and move from the family home, there is little escape from a miserable existence
in a sunless coal mining town. That is until Olive and her new husband whisk
Sian away to a new life in Australia.

From the first page, Sian’s voice was
one which shone. Although life was dreary, Sian never felt sorry for herself
and throughout the story, no matter what life threw at her, she remained
upbeat, self possessed and independently confident. Her wonder and interest in
everything surrounding her was infectious and on the journey to Australia she
had so many new experiences. When stopping in Ceylon for the ship to take on
more coal Sian saw an elephant.

‘I’d
only ever seen them in pictures, and pictures don’t tell you how they curl up
their trunks and that they set their feet down carefully, as if they don’t want
to break anything.’

Fabulously written, the setting, whether
in Wales, or Sydney, or Darwin, became as much a character of the story as the
people. Life in Darwin in the early 20th century was particularly
fascinating.

Factually based, this engaging read is a
great way to connect with our history and learn about some of the experiences
Australia’s early immigrants. Tying in with the Australian Curriculum this is a
historical novel perfect for upper primary and lower high school students but
advanced younger readers from 8 years of age would enjoy the story as well.

Hooked from the very beginning, I was
swept away by Sian, her story, and the evocative writing. Sian is part of a relatively new series A New Australian and I look forward to reading more.